Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-05-20

'Dut 40 ll1luu II. the glFi cFir
vehemeHtly. ut hurts me to the veI
quick don't mind telling you thi
Blanche, for | believe you are III
friend but do you know I'd willing
give up most of the prizes expect,
be decently dressed, aud know tLs
Ounce, Edith Luton. wouldn't be ab
TO sneer ut me. "Oh, Of course, ii
ashamed 10 feel So, and | see ,ou I
ashamed of lie for saying it, but it's
truth, nevertheless.
Blauche sat almost astound d a
this revelation. She who hal believe
that people who possessed talent live
habltually in lofty regions, where sue
petty things as dress never intruded
1t Was the first time her friend ha
ever spoken of her personal feelings i
such matters. aud she was confounde,
at the revelation.
81 never thought never dreame,
you were hurt by such things!" sh
siammered.
why, they are constant pin pricks
and often make me cross and irritable
! shall be glad to g. away from here
but then suppose | shall be obligec
10 endure the same vexatlon whereve
60. OF one thing am certain
poor teacher won't be expected to dres
iIA" rich people, she aided bitterly
Were such intimate friends. so,
knoS,' Blanche said, d,hesitatingly," ,"ant
we are atout the SAM size. Now
whN cant you wear oue OF my dresse;
that evening""
Alea put her hands over her friend.
mouth. Don't say any more, Blanche
| know I'm very foolish, bat my dear
mother has given me some lessons oI
independence that | can't forget Ny
dear, don't think ii would mend
matters for me to show myself asham.
cd Of my cloths by fiauuting in bar.
rowed fiuery. | only wish poor mann
/ ma had been able To get me lev
wards Of lace; muslin frlli loooks SO
chsa and dosdy. \ u sre IN cursed
with taste for delicate toilet acces.
sortrs"
Il wish yor'd let me help you,'
Bla' che sighed,
"loa do help me- Alsa cried,
throwing her arms around hrr friend 5
usck "Iour friendship gives me =
better opinion of giri*, aud helps my
better nature; but yon shsn't help nv
frivolous. gro,slling t,stes. It's all
over nov, Blanche, raising her bright
face. here not shadow remained.
My dark hour has passed. ! had be
come demoralized By dress talk and
.piternlness. bur I've awakened to my
msrciss, as good old M4mmy Diuah
us.d TO saw. Its among my 'marcies
that kind uclr John has given me- an
rducaiiou. and my grumb!ing Is over
until | get pacs home, snd begin to
practice the minor economies, as Pro-
SCISSOR Allen calls them
This MAS brave talk. bat Blanche.
sho MAS silent observer. AID in u
little way phllosopLer. noticed ths,
as the eyentlul day drw near. \ lga
grew very grave. and Was often foolish
ly irritable. II by any chance she
came upou little Knot Of girls dis
cussing dress. ste would turn from
them With u ilu- he'd lace; her sharp Wit
vas unspaIingly used on her compan.
ions and, cf eours-, inspired IN them u
feeling Of inieus dislike They wins
psr'd 10 each other thrt she was so
cross and rnvious that they hated the
Srr' ,lg! of her, aud hopd she would
lose the pr.zcs.
She did not, however She toak
them with u defiant air. so unlike her
usual, calm dignity, that her teachers
stared With surprise. \ few hours be
fore the evening exercises, Blanche,
who MAS alone with her. said, You
are not Yourself. Alga. What is the
ma'ter wlth you - You are so nervous
| IN almost afraid you will break down
this evening.
IL shouldn't lie s"rprissd if | did"
she answered. gloomily. "W hen am
angry | lose my n~rno-y and II | for
get IL word sf my poem I'm sure then
to become So confused that | shall
make failure. Oh, YOU don't know
ell | have undergone the hidden
taunts and lusnlts that have met me
at every turn. TO day | got c.rics
ture of myself in the cheap muslin |
Am TO wear. A ftightful thing with
IA hideous motto that | won't repeat
Do YOU know, Blanche. Eve a great
mind to 60 to bed and say I'm too i'll
to appear. I've lost all courage"
"You must not do that in justice to
yourself aud friends" Blanche said,
gently. "Your uncle will be grieved,
aud | shall be SO mortified thai | shall
not dare to raise nv head Think of
your mother, too, and forget all these
"Ill try" Alga said, with a faint
smile. 81 certainly am nervous from
over study, | suppose. or | shouldn't
be in such frame of mind Blanche, |
you don't know what it is to feel that
Won are so disliked that your sch ool-
mates are all watching eagerly to see
you fail, and if you do they rejoice. If
| could only forget them" "
Toward night the graduating Class
dazzling in their embroider-
ed mu~lins and grenadines made in the
most fashionable manner.
How do you like my dress ~ "Ot,
it's perfectly lovely" "What a stylish
fit T. How beautiful your hair is
dressed !" What exquisite flowers y
were whispers heard on every side.
Carrying her head very high, hot
flush on her cheeks, Alga entered the
room She did not know that her
coarse, plain muslin fitted her perfect
ly, and in the absence of all trimming
showed off the lines of her fine figure
to the utmost advantage.
1t seemed taller and finer for the
classic simplicity. 1t suited her style,
and with pang Edith Linton recog.